Water powered garbage disposal device



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Oct. 17, 1961 J. R, HOAGLUND 3,004,722

WATER POWERED GARBAGE DISPOSAL DEVICE Filed Feb. 1e, 1959 s sheets-sheet 2 Oct. 17, 1961 J. R. HoAGLuND WATER POWERED GARBAGE. DISPOSAL DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 16, 1959 QQTTORNBVJ" United States Patent Olice 3,004,722 Patented Oct. 17, 1961 Filed Feb. 16, 1959, Ser. No. 793,335 6 Claims. (Cl. 241-46) This invention relates to a garbage disposal device having a fluid motor driven grinding mechanism which shreds the garbage for disposal through a conventional sewer.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a garbage disposal device of the above character in which the grinding mechanism is driven by a novel fluid-powered motor having a rotor in which impeller vanes are moved into an operating position by the pressure of the iluid utilized to drive the motor,

Another object is to provide, in a garbage disposal device of the above character, a grinding mechanism which can pass over obstructions thus reducing the tendency toslow down or stop the motor.

It is a further object to provide in a unit of the above character a novel means for utilizing the water which powers the motor for iiushing the waste from the device and lubricating the mechanism.

Still another object is to provide, in a device of the above character, a novel rotor having a mo-ulded resilient covering or skin which reduces the loss of operating pressure by forming a seal between the rotor and the housing.

The invention also resides in the novel construction of the impeller vane whereby a reduction in the loss of pressure due to leakage past the vane can be elected by the pressure of the water utilized to power the water motor.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which FIGURE l is a sectional view taken on the lines 1 1 on FIG. 2 of a garbage disposal unit embodying the novel features of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional View taken along line 2-2 on FIG. l.

FIG. 3 Vis a perspective view of an impeller vane embodying the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 on FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 isa perspective view of a grinding arm.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 on FIG. 7.

FIG. 7 is a sectional View taken along line 7 7 on FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the rotor covering or skin.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9*9 on FIG.` 8.

FIG. l0 is a fragmentary elevation of the rotor.

For purposes of illustration, the present invention is shown in the drawings embodied in a garbage disposal unit 10 which is disposed beneath a sink 11 and xed to the drain flange 12 of the sink. Waste material passes through the sink drain and is collected in a waste receiving cavity 13 where it is shredded by a grinding means 14 disposed within the cavity and driven by a water motor 15. The shredded waste material leaving the grinding means passes through the unit and out of a discharge opening 16 to the drain.

The upper housing 17 of the unit has a top wall 18 and a cylindrical side wall 19 the lower portion 20 of which is belled out to a larger diameter. This housing, `which defines the waste receiving cavity 13, is threaded to a conventional sink drain llange 12 which projects into an opening 21 in the top wall of the housing. Abutment screws 22 are threaded into the top of the housing 18 so as to engage the bottom of the sink 11 thereby aligning the unit with the drain and Iaffording stability when the unit is in operation.

An inverted cup-shaped motor casing 23 is disposed beneath the waste receiving cavity 13 and mounted on theV belled lower portion 20 of the -upper housing wall 19. An annular llange 24, formed integrally with the casing and having the same diameter as the cylindrical wall 19 of the upper housing 17, projects axially upward toward a shoulder 25 formed in the wall 19 thus defining the lower part of the cavity 13. To `direct the water and shredded waste from the cavity 13 to the discharge opening 16, the outer face 26 of the top of the motor casing 23, which forms the bottom of the waste receiving cavity 13, is sloped from the annular flange 24 to the center discharge opening 16 thus providing a tunnel-shaped bottom surface for the cavity.

The pressure chambers 15a for the water motor 15 consist of arcuate recesses formed in the wall 27 of the motor casing 23 so as to extend through the bottom edge 28 of the Wall. Three such recesses are provided in the present embodiment. The bottom wall of the motor casing and of the pressure chambers is an annular plate 2-9 positioned on the casing by axially projecting annular ridges 30 which intert grooves formed in the bottom edge of the motor casing Wall 27.

Water under pressure is supplied to and the waste material discharged from the unit through the lower housing 31.

The water enters through a suitable hose or pipe connection 32, which projects laterally from the lower housing, and ilows through a circular conduit 33 three sides of which are formed in the lower housing and the water is introduced from this conduit to the water motor through spaced openings 34 in the bottom plate 29.

After the Water passes through the Water motor where its pressure is utilized to drive the grinding means 14, it is pumped through a second set of spaced openings 35 in the botto-rn plate 29 and into an exhaust conduit 36 formed in the lower housing 31. This exhaust conduit 36 conveys the water from the openings 35 to the discharge outlet 16 in the bottom wall 37 of the lower housing. The bott-om wall of the lower housing is inclined downwardly from its outer periphery to the outlet 16 which has a flange 37a to `facilitate connecting the unit to a sewer pipe. The various parts of the housing of the disposal unit are held together by bolts 40 which pass through the bottom housing 31, the bottom plate 29 and the motor casing 23 and are threaded into the bottom edge of the belled wall 20 of the upper housing 17.

Power to drive the grinding means 14 is provided by the water motor 15 comprising a casing 23 as described above and a rotor 3S disposed within the casing and journaled for rotation coaXially therewith. A plurality of vanes 39 are slidably mounted in the rotor to move into and out of the recesses 15a in the wall 27 of the motor casing. Water is admitted under pressure to the recesses to act against these vanes and turn the rotor and thus the grinding means.

In accordance with the present invention, lthe impeller vanes 39 yare moved outwardly into the recesses 15a in the casing wall 27 by the pressure ofthe water utilized to drive the motor. For this purpose the water is admitted from the conduit 33 through an opening 34 in the bottom plate located behind the innermost position 41 of the vane within the rotor. The entering water forces the vane out into the recess and flows into the recess where it acts against the vane to elect rotation of the rotor.

To enable the vanes to be slidably mounted, the rotor 38 is an annular cage-like structure having a plurality of guides 42, twelve in the present embodiment, each comprising a pair of fingers 43 spaced apart and projecting radially to the wall 27a of the motor casing. The center portion 44 of the rotor is open to provide `for discharge of the shredded waste and water from the waste cavity. A hub `45, on which the grinding means 14 is mounted, is formed integral with the rotor, the base 46 being formed by two perpendicular webs 47 spanning the center opening.

The rotor 3S is journaled j'for rotation within the motor casing 23 on opposed annular bearing rings 76, one formed on the bottom plate and the other on the inside of the motor casing. The bearing rings fit into grooves in the body of the 4rotor to maintain a co-axial relationship of the rotor and the casing during rotation of the rotor. The bearing rings serve the additional function of forming a water seal between the pressure areas and the discharge openi-ng 16.

To prevent leakage of pressure lluid from the recesses 15a past the rotor 38 and to the discharge opening 16, the top and bottom of the rotor are encased in a resilient covering or skin 71 which dilates or deforms when subjected to pressure thereby forming a seal between the rotor and the motor casing. The pressure of the water in the space between the vanes (see FIG. l) -forces the skin outwardly and into close engagement with the motor casing and the bottom plate thus reducing Vthe loss of pressure past the rotor. In the illustrated lform of the invention, the skin 71 is made of nylon and is molded on the rotor 33 as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. The skin has a plur-ality of slots 72 corresponding to those formed by the lingers 43 of the rotor thus enabling the vane 39, which slides between the lingers, to be in contact with the upper wall of the motor casing and the bottom plate 29. lnwardly facing llanges 73 are molded around the edges of the slots 72. The skin extends from the outer periphery of the rotor to the inner side of the groove 76a which receives the bearing ring 76 thus forming a bearing to reduce friction and prevent wear.

A plurality of holes 74 are yformed in the rotor angularly spaced around the groove which receives the bearing ring 76. The nylon is forced through the holes in the moulding process thus -forming bosses 77 which join the upper and lower portions of the skin and hold it in position on the rotor. Ports 75 are cored out of the lowerV portion of the skin between cachot the vane slots 72 to allow passage of the water from the inlet opening 34 to the recesses 15a.

Since the guides `42 on the. rotor extend to the wall of the motor casing 23, the vanes 39 are in their innermost position when not passing one of the three recesses 15a. To control the movement of the -vanes into and out of each recess, one end of the recess is defined by a radial face 48 and the other 49 is inclined toward the cylindrical wall 2,7 of the casing. Upon rotation, the vane 39 first passes the end defined by the radial face. As the vane passes this face it is `forced out into the recess 15al by the pressure of the entering water and as the rotor turns, the vane is cammed back between the lingers of the rotor guide by the inclined end 49 of the recess.

In order to utilize the pressure of the water to force the vane 39 into the recess 15a, the Water is introduced behind the vane at a point inwardly of and adjacent to the radial face 48. As the water enters through the bottom plate 39 it passes into a cavity 51 formed in the trailing edge of the vane. The increasing volume of water admitted to fthe cavity exerts a force acting outwardly on the 'vane thus urging it to move into the recess. When the vane 39 is in this extended position, the cavity 51 connects the water inlet 34 and the recess 15a allowing the water to` ow into the recess. Upon further rotation of the rotor, the water flows through the ports '75 `formed in the nylon skin 71 between the successive guides thus fillingV thespace between the radial tace v48 and vane 39 and increasing the pressure operable to move the vane thereby driving the rotor 38 and the grinding means 14 lixed thereto.

The vanes 39 comprise one piece hollow rectangular members with the side walls consisting of llanges formed integrally with the leading face 52 and extending toward the trailing edge. An H-shaped flange is formed on the trailing side of the vane integral with the side wall 54 on the inner end of the vane and terminates short of the side wall 54a on the outer end of the vane. The side wall 54 in the inner endoi the vane does not extend bea tween the two legs of the H-shaped ange whereby the flange 'forms the cavity 51 open at the inner end of the vane so as to allow the introduction of water. vane is entirely within the guides at the point where the water is llirst introduced, the side wall 56 on the lower end of the vane and the leg of the H-shaped flange adjacent the lower end terminate short of the inner end of the vane thereby forming a passage 53 through which the water may pass from theopening 34 to the cavity 51.

To obtain the maximum operating pressure possible in the recess, the impeller vanes 39 are constructed in a novel manner for close engagement with the walls of the recess 15a so as to prevent leakage past the vane. This is accomplished by lancing the side walls of the vane at each of the outer corners as indicated at 51a. Thus when the vane is in the extended position against the outer wall of the recess, the water pressure acting against the vane forces the relatively thin side walls outwardly so as to closely engage the upper wall of the motor casing and the bottom plate.

In operation, the water llows into the recess thereby electing the rotation of the vane. As the next vane is brought into position in the recess, the water is trapped between the two vanes which are cammed back between the lingers 43 by the inclined end 49 of the recess. An exhaust opening 35 is located in the bottom plate 29 beneath the recess 15a and near the inclined end 49 of the recess. A portion ofthe water entrapped between the vanes is pumped through this opening. The water which passes through the exhaust openings flows through the exhaust conduit 36 formed in the lower housing and is discharged to the drain 16.

Since the vane is being cammed back in between the lingers thus decreasing the space between the vanes, the water trapped between the successive lingers is under pressure. After passing over the exhaust opening 35 where 4a portion of the water is pumped out, the vane 39 is cammed the rest of the Way back between the lingers 43 thereby insuring that the water that is not exhausted remains under pressure.

Another feature of the present invention is the novel means of introducing Water into the waste cavity 13 to lubricate the grinding elements 14 and to flush the shredded Waste material to the drain opening 16 without sacrilicing operating pressure. For this purpose, the bellshaped portion 20 of the upper housing 17 and the upstanding annular llange 24 on the motor casing 23 deline an annular chamber 55 which surrounds the waste receiving cavity 13. Water is forced into the chamber from passages 55SL cored into the motor casing and located between the recesses. The water is pumped by the rotation of the vanes into the passages through an aperture 55b (FIGS. 1 and 2) formed through the casing Wall connecting the recess with the passage. The pressure of the entrapped water in the rotor plus the action of the vanes rotating past the aperture S5b forces the water up through the passage 551L and into the chamber 55 surrounding the waste cavity. The pressure thus built up in this chamber forces the water through a small passage 58 between the llange on the motor casing and the shoulder 25 on the upper housing 17 and into the waste cavity 13 to flush the lwaste-material from the grinding elements.

It is also a `feature of the invention that the grinding Since thev means 14 is so constructed and mounted -as to pass over obstructions thereby lessening the tendency for such obstructions to slow down or stop the rotation of the rotor. To this end, the grinding means comprises two rotating arms 59 which coact with a grinding plate 60 to shred the waste deposited in the waste cavity 13. The elongated rectangular arms 59 have one end disposed within a groove 61 formed in the upper side of the hub 45 of the rotor and the other end extending in opposite directions along the diameter of the cavity. The arms are held in position by a bolt 62 which passes through the hub and the two arms and is secured by a nut 63. The groove 61 is of suicient width to permit the arms 59 to pivot -about the bolt 62. When a particle of waste impedes the rotation of the arms, they ride over the obstruction by turning about the pivot. In this manner the arms maintain a fairly constant speed of rotation and the grinding action is not hindered.

To facilitate the shredding of the waste material so it may be disposed of through a conventional drain, teeth 64'are formed on the bottom side of the arms. The upper portion 65 of the arms lare curved in the direction of rotation along a line extending from the center of the hole by which they are fastened to the hub to the top of the teeth 64 on the outside end. This curved portion enables the arms to force the waste down into the teeth and also presents a smooth contour at the leading edge of the arm whereby it can slide up and over any obstruction which'would tend to stall the water motor.

To coact with these rotating toothed arms 59 in shredding the waste material, a circular perforated plate 60 having an opencenter portion to fit over the hub 45 of the rotor 38 is disposed within the waste cavity 13 directly beneath the arms when they are in a horizontal position and is mountedV on a shoulder 24a formed on the axially extending liange 24 on the motor casing 23. Upset teeth 66 formed on the plate intert those on the rotating arms so that the -waste material is shredded between the two upon rotation of the arms. In the present instance, these teeth 66 are struck out of the circular plate 60. In the embodiment shown, five teeth 64 are formed on each arm and three groups of five teeth 66, or ifteen in all, are formed on the grinding plate 60 and spaced in such a manner that only one tooth of each arm interlits a single tooth on the plate at any one position of the rotating arms. In addition to the teeth described, 9 auxiliary teeth 64n are formed on the outer periphery of the grinding plate to coact with the outer edge of the rotating arms and process, for disposal, the waste which has been thrown against the outer wall.

In order to maintain contact between the rotating grinding arms and the grinding plate while permitting the arms to pivot over obstructions, a spring 68 acts between the arms urging them to remain in a horizontal position. The spring is a U-shaped wire with the ends 69 bent so as to project at an angle. The spring is compressed by bringing the ends toward each other and the bent ends are inserted in notches 70 in the lower edge of the arms located on either side of the axis of the rotor so that the spring urges the arms 59 against the grinding plate 60. When the amis ride up and over an obstruction, the spring is compressed further resulting in greater force being exerted to urge the arms back into contact with the plate.

It will be noted that in the present invention the need for a cam to move the vane out into the recess is not required, thus the loss of power due to friction between the vane and cam is eliminated. The power developed by the 'water motor to drive the arms is further utilized by the novel method of mounting the rotating arms which permits them to pivot up and pass over any obstructions thereby reducing loss of power which would result from slowing down or stopping the arms.

6. I claim as my invention:r -1. A uid motor having, in combination, a casing defining a chamber With a cylindrical side wall, said cy-V lindrical wall having an arcuate recess extending part way around the wall and having top and bottom walls with one end of the recess defined by a radial face and the other being inclined toward said cylindrical Wall, a rotor disposed within said chamber coaxially therewith and mounted in said casing to turn about its own axis, a plurality of guides rigid with said rotor and each comprising a pair of fingers spaced apart and projecting radially to said cylindrical wall, a plurality of vanes, one disposed between each pair of lingers and each mounted to slide radially into said recess as the corresponding fingers pass said radial face and to be cammed back between the fingers by said inclined end upon turning of the rotor, a conduit communicating with said chamber at a point spacedradially inwardly of the ends of said fingers and adjacent said face whereby said fingers pass across said conduit, means for supplying pressure fluid to said conduit whereby said fluid is admitted between a pair of ngers and behind the corresponding vane as the latter reaches said face and slides the vane out into said recess, and a cavity formed in the trailing side of each of said vanes and terminating short of the outer end of the vane thereby to connect said conduit and said recess when the vane slides out and to admit pressure fluid to the space between the vane and said face, the pressure fluid thus admitted being operable to turn said rotor.

2. A fluid motor having, in combination, a casing defining a chamber with a cylindrical side wall, said cylindrical side wall having an arcuate recess extending part way around the wall and having top and bottom walls with one end of the recess defined by a radial face and the other being inclined toward said cylindrical wall, a disc-shaped rotor disposed within said chamber coaxially therewith and mounted in said casing to turn about its own axis, a plurality of vanes mounted on said rotor to slide radially into and out of said recess, means for admitting pressure iluid to said recess behind a Vane projecting into the recess thereby to turn said rotor, a layer of resilient material covering the top and bottom surfaces of said rotor and having radial slots formed therein to slidably receive said vanes, flanges formed on said layer along said slot and extending partially through said rotor, said layer being operable to deform when exposed to said pressure iluid thereby to form a seal between said rotor and said casing.

3. A lluid motor as defined in claim l, said vane comprising a hollow rectangular member having anges forming the side walls thereof, said side walls being relatively thin and lanced at the corners so as to deform outwardly to closely engage the top and bottom walls of said recess when exposed to said pressure uid.

4. A water powered waste disposal unit having, in combination, a cylindrical housing defining a waste receiving cavity, means defining an annular chamber surrounding said cavity, a rotor casing disposed beneath the cavity and having a discharge opening for waste and water, said rotor casing having arcuate recesses extending part way around the wall of said casing, said recesses having top and bottom walls with one end of the recesses defined by a radial face and the other end being inclined toward said wall, a rotor disposed within said casing coaxially therewith and mounted within said housing to turn about its own axis, a plurality of vanes angularly spaced around said rotor and each mounted on the rotor to slide radially into and out of said recesses as it passes the recesses upon turning of the rotor, a grinding means -disposed within said cavity and mounted on said rotor to rotate bodily therewith, means for supplying water under pressure behind the corresponding vane as the latter reaches said radial face thereby sliding the vane out into the recess and admitting water under pressure into the said casing having a plurality of passages, each connect- Y ing said chamber and one of said recesses at the inclinedY end thereof, said vane as it is cammed in by said inclined end being effective to pump water from the recess through the passage and into said chamber, and means defining an annular passage connecting said cavity and said chamber for the discharge of Water from the chamber over said grinding means thereby flushing the Waste from the grinding elements and to said discharge openmg.

5. A water powered waste disposal unit having, in combination, a cylindrical housing defining a waste receiving cavity, means defining an annular chamber surrounding said cavity, a rotor casing disposed beneath the cavity and having a discharge opening for waste and water, said rotor casing having an arcuate recess extending part way around the wall of said casing, a rotor disposed within said casing coaxially therewith and mounted in the casing to turn about its own axis, a plurality of vanes mounted in said rotor to slide radially into and out of said recess upon turning of the rotor, a grinding means disposed within said cavity and mounted on said rotor to rotate bodily therewith, means for supplying water under pressure to said recess to turn the rotor, said casing having a passage connecting said chamber and said recess at the inclined end thereof, said vane as it is cammed in by said inclined end being eiective to pump water from the recess through the passage and into said chamber, and means defining annular passage connecting said cavity and said chamber for the discharge of Water from the chamber over said grinding means thereby ushing the Waste from the grinding elements and to said discharge opening. v

6. A water powered waste disposal unit having, in

combination, a. cylindrical housing defining a waste receiving cavity, a casing disposed beneath the cavity and having a discharge opening for waste and water, said casing having an arcuate recess extending part way around the Wall of the casing with one end of the recess defined by a radial face and the other being inclined toward said wall, a rotor disposed within said casing coaxially therewith and mounted within the casing to turn about its own axis, means for supplying water under pressure to said casing to turn said rotor, two arms pivotally mounted on said rotor and having teeth formed on the bottom edges thereof, the upper portion of said arms being curved forwardly relative Yto the direction of rotation, a plate disposed within said cavity under said arms and having upset teeth which interlit said teeth on said arms and coact therewith to shred waste placed in said cavity, a spring acting on said arms to urge the arms toward said plate while allowing the arms to pivot up and over Vany obstruction thereby to prevent -slowing down or stopping of said rotor, and means 4including said rotor for forcing water into said cavity over said arms and said plate to ush the shredded waste into the discharge opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent Wakeman Aug. 26, 

